Abstract
Evaluation is an essential process to determine the strength and weakness of any agriculture extension service and to suggest measures for its improvement. Keeping the said aspect in view, 150 farmer respondents of 10 randomly selected union councils of Mang Tchsil were interviewed. The analysis of data revealed the awareness of majority of the respondents about the duties of Field Assistants and significant relationship between status of the respondent farmers and cooperation extended by the field staff.
INTRODUCTION
In Pakistan, though agriculture contributes 6.1% of gross domestic product, accounts for about 26% of foreign exchange earnings and exports and engages 51.5% of the entire labour force, yet the yield of vari-ous crops is much below their potential (Anonymous, 1988-89). It is a general con-sensus that low per hectare yield of various crops is attributed to a number of factors, including the lack of training of farmers in the use of improved agricultural techniques, use of poor quality seeds, ignorance of water management practices, etc. (Anonymous, 1978). While pointing out factors responsi-ble for low yield, it would not be justified to omit the influence of socio-economic status of the farmers, who according to Afeef (1988) could get more benefits from the banks and other agricultural organizations by dint of their influence and resources. Inspite of much emphasis laid on agricultural extension service in the dissemi-nation of improved agricultural practice, the farmers are still in search of satisfaction re-garding the performance of extension field staff. The people expect them to act as a
solid and sound bridge between the field and research institutions and render equal ser-vices to all the farmers irrespective of clients' social status and land holdings. As a result small land holders would get satisfied and work enthusiastically to increase the production of various crops. As the opinions of people on the issue arc diversified, so no one could pass a final verdict regarding the performance of extension field staff without conducting an unbiased, reliable and formal evaluation of extension service. This study, therefore, was planned to probe into the level of expectations and satisfaction of farming community towards the working of extension field staff with special reference to the impact of farmers' social status on their working efficiency.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In order to evaluate the present working efficiency of Agricultural Extension Field Staff (Agriculture Officers and Field Assistants) and seek suggestions, Tchsil Mang comprising 40 union councils, was se-lected as the Universe. Of which, 5 union councils and then two villages from each
